The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at The University of Iowa (UI) invites applications for an open-rank tenure-track position, with an anticipated August 2023 starting date. The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. degree in mechanical or naval engineering, naval architecture, or a related discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in fluid dynamics and/or marine hydrodynamics, with research interests broadly related to autonomous marine systems. Candidates with complementary research interests in the areas of modeling and control of marine vehicles, autonomous systems, design methodologies for marine systems, and other interdisciplinary and emerging application areas are especially encouraged to apply. Successful candidates should demonstrate potential for attracting extramural funding and establishing a research program that will contribute to the advancement of autonomous marine systems. The successful candidate will develop a teaching portfolio in both core mechanical engineering topics and research-relevant areas, and will be committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of their work.
ME is a vibrant, collegial, research-active department with 16 tenure-track faculty, 4 instructional faculty, over 400 undergraduate students, 64 graduate students, and a diverse team of postdoctoral researchers, professional, instructional, and administrative staff. ME has an established global reputation for research innovation in marine science and engineering, with a 70-year history of Navy-supported research. A successful candidate will complement and expand upon this research strength.
This position is a strategic hire in the College of Engineering, aiming to enhance our strengths in marine science and engineering. Our college has six academic departments, several research centers of excellence, and research expenditures of $50M per year. All academic units are hosted in the Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, which enables frequent and regular opportunities for engagement with students, faculty, and staff throughout the college. Within the College of Engineering, IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering is home to state-of-the-art large-scale experimental facilities, including a 100 m towing tank, a 20 x 40 m wave basin equipped with motion tracking systems above and below the surface, as well as flow velocimetry instrumentation, and numerous free-surface flumes. In addition, IIHR is home to some of the most advanced simulation tools available to model the dynamics of marine systems.
We are proud to be the first public institution that admitted both men and women regardless of race (since our founding in 1847), and the first to extend benefits to employees’ domestic partners (in 1992). We embrace our shared responsibility to create a welcoming and inclusive campus culture so that all community members can unlock their own potential. Faculty in the College of Engineering contribute to DEI by designing curricula, research programs, and engagement opportunities that challenge the status quo, cultivate empathy, seek out diverse perspectives, and value global citizenship. To learn more about the University of Iowa’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit https://diversity.uiowa.edu/.
The College is committed to recruiting and retaining talented and diverse faculty and staff, which includes providing dual-career resources and opportunities for employees to “Build a Career and Build a Life” in the Iowa City area. The University offers several benefits to support faculty and their families in achieving a healthy work/life balance. For more information, please visit this link: https://worklife.uiowa.edu.
Preliminary inquiries for additional information are encouraged. Review of applications will begin on October 31, 2022; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
